A group that has removed 4,455 tires and nearly 419,000 pounds of garbage from the Connoquenessing Creek is asking the county for help with this year's cleanup events, as recent flooding has washed large items into the creek.

Christina Handley, vice president of the Allegheny Aquatic Alliance, told county commissioners at their Wednesday meeting that increased expenses will be incurred this year, and additional resources required to remove the large items from the creek.

She said an entire camp and a riding mower, along with many other large items, were washed into the creek this spring when it overran its banks.

In addition, the alliance's agreement with Bridgestone to recycle the tires pulled from the creek has become inefficient.

Handley said the tires the company planned to recycle after last year's September cleanup event are still lying where they were placed to dry by volunteers. As a result, the alliance will pay $4 more per tire to have them recycled elsewhere.

“So far, all 4,455 tires (pulled from the creek) have been recycled,” Handley said. “That is our goal, to eliminate as much landfill garbage as we can.”

She said metal and single-use plastic containers are also recycled.

During this year's two cleanup events, the alliance will concentrate on a 16-mile stretch between McCalmont Road in Butler Township and Zelienople in the 50-mile creek.

“We have noticed during various floats that area contains the most garbage,” Handley said.

She asked the commissioners to serve as a sponsor for the 2019 cleanups to help pay for garbage disposal and tire recycling costs.

Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman, advised Handley to speak with Lance Welliver, the county parks and recreation director, as any funding from the county would come from that department.

Welliver met briefly with Handley and later said Handley had agreed to provide him with prices for garbage disposal and tire recycling.

Welliver will then decide if and how much county support will be proffered to the alliance.

Osche said the county has sponsored the Connoquenessing Creek Cleanup in the past.

Handley said volunteers are always needed for the two cleanup events, which will be held on Aug. 24 and Sept. 7 this year.

More information is available at www.alleghenyaquaticalliance.com.